The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-07
KNIeHIs IN COUNCIL.
The Great Labor Convention Opens at
nneapolis--Powderly's Address.


nneapolis--Powderly's Address.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Oct, 1.-THE General
Assembly of Knights of Labor was called
to order in Washington rink yesterday
morning by P. J. McGaughey, Sec
rotary of the Cooperative Board,
and Chairman of the local Com
mittee of Arrangements The rink
was handsomely decorated and contained
about 1900 people. Mr.. McGaughey made
brief remarks on the growth OF the older
in the Northwest, and introduced Mayor
Ames. who made formal address OF well
come
Richard Griffiths, General Worthy Fora
man, responded in Mr. Powderly's absence
He was followed by A. A. Carlton, OF the
General Executive Board, who spoke par
ticularly of the growth of the order, and
said it would appear when the reports were
all in that the order was not going TO pieces,
but was in reality stronger than ever.
Mr. Richard Trevellick then concluded
the morning session with short speech
pledging tie order to the support of Ameri-
can principles and American institutions,
and the convention adjourned TIL O'Clock
The great hall, capable of seating $4,000
people, was crowded ut the time OF the
opening of the evening exercises
General Master Workman P0wderly's ad-
dress on 1.-The World as knighthoOd Would
Make It" was received with unhounded
enthusiasm. After few introductory re-
marks he said:
Men say the Knights can never attain what
is aimed at in their declaration of principles.
Then they go to church and pray for better
things than the knights ever dreamed of.
Knlghthood would not pave the streets with
gold. The men who pray that this earth be
made as the Kingdom of Heaven would deny
us place in legislative halls The knights OF
Labor respect the law and they intend to take
hand in making the laws. We intend to educate
our people so that they will be able ana ht 10
take high positions in life. Our organization is
not a partisan organization, but in the true
sense of the word it is O political organization.
The man who studies with us will be able to
vote intelligently; if he is not there is some
thing wrong with his head.
1T has been charged that did not favor inn
migration. 1t is a mistake. 1 am of foreign
birth myself. ] was not born early enough to-
keep my father from coming to this country.
would not have done so If l could / have no
objection to foreign immigration 1 favor
it. Every Immigrant company has ITS
immigration agents. They bring in all
manner of foreigners If one of these poor
creatures raises his hand not against law, for
he knows none, but against what he sees Just
before him he is called an Anarchist and is pun
ished while the men who loaded these poor
creatures on this country go scot-free. tThun-
derous applause l hate anarchy and and
hate Anarchists.
II am also called crank on the temperance
question. may be crank on this question,
but am not ashamed to say that L would far
rather see man a sober man than drunEard-
1t is better to educate our children 10
be temperate than to be drunkards.
There's not a man living who will say
that it's right to bring into the home
that which damns the head of the family
There are those who have threatened to leave
the order because of my position on this ques-
ton. l say to all who would W thdraw for such
a cause, go TIL trust the fate of this Nation
with sober men and women. I'll never take
back one word of what have said on the tenn
perance question, so help me God. The time
will come when the workers of all kinds and
classes will be banded together for common
purpose.
'Now, my friends, I have done. 1t would be
a pleasure to speak at greater length on our
pr nciples, to tell you more in detail of the
world as knighthood would make it. but hope
that every Knight will leave this house tonight
determined to do his whole duty would have
you educate yourselves for the duties OF this
world. Let every man, woman and child in this
audience leave this place tonight resolv-
ing to do this. 1t is your duty; see to it that it
is well done. Let every man and woman read
and Law to heart the declaration Of principles of
this order, Let them do this, and when their
work is over they can lie down, as did that
dead workman of whom have just spoken,
conscious that their work has been done, and
well done"